Reservation Number : 38591
Property Name : Malouf Lake
Reservation Date : 02/21/2024 PM -
Total Fish/Sizes : 18 from dink to 2.5lbs
Lures Used : Z-Man Compact Spinnerbait

I fished from around 12:45pm to 4:40pm, but the main purpose of my trip was to get my new Pelican Bass Raider 10e on the water for the first time.  I picked a real “trial by fire” day for it as the wind was whipping all afternoon and the lake was constant white caps.  This was a day that I normally wouldn’t even have gone out on a Jon boat, but it’s a testament to the stability of these small pontoon style boats that the Raider provided a more than stable platform even in those conditions.  This isn’t a commercial, but if it can stand up to yesterday’s conditions and be managable then I am thrilled about how it will be fishing with milder conditions.  Speaking of conditions: Temps in high 70s to low 80s, strong gusty winds, water stained to muddy and upper 50’s temp with maybe 2’ visibility in the clearer areas.  I tried a squarebill and chatterbait early, but realized quickly that I needed to try to get out of the open water, so I made my way to the pockets on the East side across from the ramp and started throwing a shad colored, double willow Z-Man Slingbladz spinnerbait with a pearl with black flake grub trailer. I got my first couple of fish on that throwing around the shallows where I was a little protected from the wind, and I stuck w/ that pattern the rest of the day.  I caught at least 1 fish in just about all of those pockets where I stopped as I made my way down the East side, then the South end near the fence yeilded a few, then I worked the West side with the same results picking off a couple or 3 from the likely spots.  I caught nothing in the standing timber on the West side, but I caught 4 (including 3 in a row) off the laydown trees on the West bank just South of the ramp.  I thought about crossing back to the East again and making another lap, but it was already past 4pm and I was happy with 18 fish and a successful maiden voyage in the Raider.  Fun day all around.  Thanks PWF and landowner!